Donated relief goods exempt from import duties

Filipino women pack boxes next to a donations box from their compatriots at a delivery company in Hong Kong, November 15,2013.

MANILA, Philippines - Donated relief goods are exempted from import duties provided they are properly consigned to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or to any DSWD-accredited organisation, according to Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon.

In a statement, Biazon said that the exemption is granted through a documentation and recording process.

"For this purpose, we have set up a one-stop shop to expeditiously process importation of donated relief goods and equipment for the calamity-response operations," he said.

But he was quick to add that certain items, such as medicine, telecommunications equipment and agricultural products are subject to clearance by regulatory agencies like the Food and Drug Administration, the National Telecommunications Commission and the Department of Agriculture.